Snow blower



Oct. 2, 1962 J. J. DEvNovAN ETAL 3,056,218

SNOW BLOWER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 26, 1960 ATTORNEY Oct. 2, 1962J. J. DENOVAN ETAL 3,056,218

SNOW BLOWER 5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Sept. 26, 1960 AWENTOW 1962 J. J.DENOVAN ETAL 3,

3 Sheets-Sheet, 3

Filed Sept. 26, 1960 "Egg 2% T rates aterrt 3,056,218 Patented Oct. 2,1962 3,056,218 SNOW BLOWER John 11'. Dencvan and Robert A. Denovan,Dailreith, On-

tario, Qanada, assignors to Denovan Ltd, Dallreith, Qatari-a, Canada, acorporation of Canada Filed Sept. 26, 15 58, Ser. No. 58,566 5 Claims.(Cl. 31-43) This invention relates to snow blowers or snow removingapparatus.

it is an object of this invention to provide a snow blower of simpleconstruction and convenient, inexpensive manufacture, which is ofimproved effectiveness in operation, which is subject to easy andefficient control in use, and which may be quickly and easily associatedwith and detached from conventional power operating means therefor suchas a tractor or the like.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a snow blower inaccordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blower.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the blower,

FIGURE 4 is a partial sectional view on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and

FIGURE 5 is a partial sectional view on line 55 of FIGURE 1.

In the drawing, the snow blower in accordance with the invention isgenerally indicated at 1. It is specifically designed for easy andconvenient attachment to and disengagement from a conventional motorvehicle, such as a tractor as indicated at 2, from which the operatingpower supply and motive power for the snow blower is to be derived.

The blower comprises a cylindrical impeller casing 3 having a pair ofmold boards 4- fixed to the forward end of the casing and flaringoutwardly and forwardly therefrom for sweeping snow into the casing. Forcutting high banks of snow, an upwardly extending cutter blade 5 may bemounted at the forward end of each mold board. A supporting frame isindicated at 6.

The casing 3 is open at its forward end and its rearward end is closedas indicated at 7. It is supported on the ends of a frame comprising apair of rearwardly extending beams 8 which may be of metal channel form.

Extending axially through the casing is an impeller shaft 9 mounted inbearings 19 and 11 respectively carried in forward and rearward framemembers 12 and 13 fixed to the casing.

A plurality of series of inclined beater arms 14, 15 and 16 are mountedon shaft 9 in axially spaced relation. These arms extend radially fromthe shaft and are fixed thereto for revolution therewith. These arms actto break up the snow entering the impeller casing and to propel itrearwardly to the rear end of the casing. Furthermore, as shown, theblades of each series are angularly oifset with respect to the blades ofthe other two series.

At the rearward end of the casing, an impeller 17 is fixed to shaft 9for revolution therewith. Impeller 17 comprises a radially extendingplate 18 and a plurality of radially extending impeller blades 19 havingtheir rear edges in substantial abutment with and attached to saidplate. Each blade 19 is of shallow V-shape in cross section to present ashallow troughlike surface 20 for reception of the snow. The plate 18may be of any suitable shape, such as square, as shown, and its radicalextent at the corners thereof is substantially equal to the radialextent of arms 19 whereby the plate acts to prevent rearwarddisplacement of the supply of snow carried by each blade. It will beapparent that, on revolution of the impeller, the snow picked up by theimpeller blades 19 will tend to be discharged radially outwardlytherefrom under the influence of centrifugal force. The impeller blades19 may be braced to the plate 18 as by braces 19a.

Means permitting selective location of discharge from the casing of snowfrom the impeller arms 19 comprises a pair of door-controlled openings21 and 22 in the casing wall in opposed relation to the impeller.Opening 21 is located on one side of the casing for discharge of snow toone side of the blower, and opening 22 is located in the top portion ofthe casing for discharge of snow to the other side of the blower. A pairof snow directing baffle plates 23 fixed to the casing and extendingradially outwardly therefrom are provided respectively immediatelyforwardly and rearwardly of the openings.

Opening 21 is provided with a door 24 hinged by means of a hinge pin 25to an outwardly deflected portion 26 of the casing wall. The door 24 hasan offset lip portion 24:: to prevent silting of snow through theopening when the door is not tightly closed. A baffle 27 at the edge ofthe opening opposite the door hinge assists in directing the flow ofsnow from the opening when the door is open, such open door also servingto direct the discharge snow.

Opening 22 is provided with a door 28 hinged by a hinge pin 25 to anoutwardly deflected portion 30 of the casing wall, such door also havingan offset lip portion 23a.

A linkage mechanism is provided for maintaing one door open when theother is closed and for opening the closed door and closing the opendoor as desired whereby the snow is selectively discharged through oneor other of the openings 21 and 22. Such mechanism comprises a shaft 31journalled in the bafile plates 23 and having an arm 32 fixed theretointermediate its ends. One end of arm 32 is pivotally connected to arelatively long depending link 33 which in turn is pivotally connectedto one end of an arm 34 the other end of which is fixed to hinge pin 25of door 24.

The other end of arm 32 is pivotally connected to a link 35 which inturn is pivotally connected at 36 to one end of an arm 37 the other endof which is fixed to hinge pin 29 of door 28. The arm 37 and link 35 areloosely supported on a rod 3d carried by the baflle plates 23 adjacentthe pivot 36.

It will be apparent that rotation of the shaft 31 in one direction willact through the linkage mechanism described to close door 24 and opendoor 28, whereas rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction willact to open door 24' and close door 28. It will be observed that thepivotal connection of link 33 with shaft 31 is located below themidsection of the link whereby movement of the link over its centralvertical position locks the respective door shut. A spring 39 having oneend fixed to a baflle plate 23 and its other end fixed to an arm 40carried by the shaft 31 acts to rotate the shaft in such first directionand therefore normally holds door 24 closed and door 23 open. The shaft31 is arranged for manual rotation in the opposite direction to reversethe open and closed position of the doors by means of a rod 41 pivotallyconnected at 42 to the shaft and having a crank 43 at its free end.

Means for driving the impeller shaft 9 comprises a driving shaft 44mounted in bearings 45 carried by transverse frame members 46 and 47fixed to beams 8, frame member 47 being located at the rearward ends ofthe beams. Shaft 44 is drivably connected to shaft 9 as by sprockets 48and 49 and chain 50. The rearward end of shaft 44 is drivably connectedto a stub shaft 51 as by means of sprockets 52 and 53 and chain 54.Shaft 51 is mounted in bearings 55 carried by frame member 47.

It will be apparent that the driving assembly elements mounted on framemember 47 may be readily removed therefrom when required.

Means are provided for readily associating the blower described to thetractor 2 for operation of the blower. It will be apparent that thetractor may be driven over the beams 8 and associated elements to theposition indicated in FIGURES l and 2. The rearward end of the beamassembly is raised and connected to the tractor drawbar 56 by means of abracket 57 having tongues 58 fitting into the drawbar and a drawbar pin59. The shaft 51 is connected by means of a universal joint 60 to thepower take-off shaft 61 of the tractor.

Power means are preferably provided for raising and lowering the forwardend of the blower and beam assembly and comprises a pair of cables 62each having one end connected to one of the conventional hydraulic liftarms 63 of the tractor. Each cable extends over a pulley 64 mounted on abeam 8 and then forwardly along the beam and thence over a second pulley65 mounted on the beam, the other end of the cable being connected to apin 66 carried by a bracket 67 fixed to the tractor frame. It will beapparent that actuation of the lift arms 63 will exert a pull on thecables 62 to raise the beam assembly.

Instead of, or in conjunction with, the power lift means described,there may be provided manual lifting and lowering means for the forwardend. Such means may comprise a manually operated device such asillustrated and comprising a shaft 68 rotatably mounted on each beam 8as by means of brackets 69 and a chain 70 fixed intermediate its ends bya pin '71 to shaft 68 and having its end portions arranged forreleasable locking engagement with a flange 72 fixed to bracket 67.Shaft 68 is manually rotatable in either direction as by insertion of arod in one or other of the openings 73 in the shaft. It will be apparentthat rotation of the shaft in one direction will apply tension to oneportion of chain 7% to impose a degree of lifting movement to the beamwhile the other portions of the chain will be slackened. The latterslackened portion is then pulled taut, locked in such position, and theshaft rotated in the opposite direction. The operation is continued withrespect to each chain 70 until the desired height has been reached. The

chain connection described is described in greater detail in priorUnited States Patent 2,803,899.

It will be apparent that the lifting chains 79 are located approximatelyat the center of gravity of the blower attachment. Thus, when thetractor is driven over the rearward portion of the attachment and themanual lift actuated to raise the machine, the suspended machine may beeasily moved to swing the rearward end laterally as well as in a foreand aft direction to position the same in proper position for connectionto the drawbar 5d by insertion of the pin 59. Therefore, the connectionmay easily be effected by one man, which is a very important advantageof the structure described.

It is desirable to provide a sway chain connection between the blowerframe and the tractor. This connection may comprise a pair of chains 74each having one end connected to a beam 8 and 75 and its other endconnected to a bracket 78 on the opposite side of the tractor, thechains 74 crossing each other as shown in FIGURE 5. The sway chains 74may be of differential length whereby the blower may be offset relativeto the tractor in certain instances where, for instance, it may bedesired to run the blower closer to a ditch.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the door operating shaft 31 may be supported in atubular member 76 fixed to the tractor and the end portion of the shaftjournalled in a bracket 77 also mounted on the tractor.

We claim:

1. In combination with a tractor having a drawbar, a power take-offshaft, and hydraulic lift arms, a snow blower comprising a cylindricalimpeller casing having 1 a horizontal axis, mold boards carried by saidcasing and extending forwardly therefrom, an impeller shaft journalledin said casing and extending axially therethrough, a series of beaterarms carried by said shaft and extending radially therefrom, a bladedimpeller fixed to said shaft rearwardly of said beater arms,door-controlled openings in said casing opposite said impeller forpassage of snow discharged therefrom, a frame extending rearwardly fromsaid casing and under said tractor, said frame having a forward endfixed to said casing and a rearward end, a cable lift device mounted onsaid frame and attached to said hydraulic lift arms, a drawbarconnection mounted on the rearward end of said frame and connectable tosaid drawbar, and means for driving said impeller shaft comprising adriving shaft journalled in said frame and extending from the forward tothe rearward end thereof, a driving shaft journalled in the rearward endof said frame, said frame and driven shaft being located in planesparallel to said casing axis but disposed below the horizontal plane ofsaid axis for reception of said tractor thereover, means mounted on saidframe forward end drivably connecting said driving shaft with saidimpeller shaft and means mounted on said frame rearward end drivablyconnecting said driving shaft with said driven shaft, and a universaljoint connec tion between said driven shaft and said power take-offshaft.

2. A snow blower as defined in claim 1, including a pair of laterallyspaced brackets fixed to the forward end portion of said tractor, and asway connection between the forward portions of said tractor and framecomprising a pair of flexible lines each connecting one of said bracketswith the opposite side of said frame, said flexible lines extendingdiagonally across each other.

3. A snow blower comprising a cylindrical impeller casing having ahorizontal axis, mold boards carried by said casing and extendingforwardly therefrom, an impeller shaft journalled in said casing andextending axially therethrough, a series of beater arms carried by saidshaft and extending radially therefrom, a bladed impeller fixed to saidshaft rearwardly of said beater arms, doorcontrolled openings in saidcasing opposite said impeller for passage of snow discharged therefrom,a frame extending rearwardly from said casing, said frame having aforward end fixed to said casing and a rearward end, a cable lift devicemounted on said frame, a drawbar connection mounted on the rearward endof said frame, and means for driving said impeller shaft comprising adriving shaft journalled in said frame and extending from the forward tothe rearward end thereof, a driving shaft journalled in the rearward endof said frame, said frame and driven shaft being located in planesparallel to said casing axis but disposed below the horizontal plane ofsaid axis, means mounted on said frame forward end drivably connectingsaid driving shaft with said impeller shaft and means mounted on saidframe rearward end drivably connecting said driving shaft with saiddriven shaft, and a universal joint connection on said driven shaft.

4. A snow blower comprising a cylindrical impeller casing having ahorizontal axis, mold boards carried by said casing and extendingforwardly therefrom, an impeller shaft journalled in said casing andextending axially therethrough, a series of beater arms carried by saidshaft and extending radially therefrom, a bladed impeller fixed to saidshaft rearwardly of said heater arms, door-controlled openings in saidcasing opposite said impeller for passage of snow discharged therefrom,a frame extending rearwardly from said casing, said frame having aforward end fixed to said casing and a rearward end, a drawbarconnection mounted on the rearward end of said frame, means for drivingsaid impeller shaft comprising a driving shaft journalled in said frameand extending from the forward to the rearward end thereof, a drivingshaft journalled in the rearward end of said frame, said frame anddriven shaft being located in planes parallel to said casing axis butdisposed below the horizontal plane of said axis, means mounted on saidframe forward end drivably connecting said driving shaft with saidimpeller shaft, and means mounted on said frame rearward end drivablyconnecting said driving shaft with said dr-iven shaft, and a liftingdevice mounted on said frame and comprising a pair of flexible lineseach connected to said frame at a point in transversely opposed relationto the approximate center of gravity of said snow blower.

5. A snow blower as defined in claim 4, said lifting device comprising apair of shafts rotatably mounted in said frame, each of said flexiblelines having an end fixed to one of said last-mentioned shafts forwinding thereon in response to rotation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS580,004 Ruggles Apr. 6, 1897 6 Brown Feb. 23, Barry Feb. 12, Green et a1Apr. 2, Carpenter July 15, Hulslander Jan. 20, Neal Oct. 1 1, Davis June10,

Heaman Dec. 2, Hickman Sept. 1, Cady May 31, Kiecker et al Jan. 15,

Fiacco Dec. 10,

FOREIGN PATENTS Norway Feb. 27, Norway July 31, Canada Dec. 3,

